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5 Things You Need to Know About Core-Strength Exercise Ball Workouts

1. Get on the Ball
Building those core muscle groups can go well by using an exercise ball for stability. When you build your core muscles, you strengthen your spine, improve your posture and help your organs work more efficiently. You should control your movements, start out slow and build your way up to a quicker pace. Fatigue may set in quicker with the ball exercises, so you may want to start out with shorter routines and fewer repetitions. Learn to use the ball properly from a physical therapist, fitness trainer or physician.

2. Check with Your Doctor
If you have back pain, especially lower back problems, you should speak with your health-care provider before working out on the ball. Many times the exercise ball can aggravate an existing back ailment or injury. There is also a bit of instability when switching from the floor to the ball. Gaining confidence and balance will come with patience and practice. Many doctors tell their patients to use the ball to help their backs by strengthening their core muscles.

3. Bouncy Baby Ball
The exercise ball isn't just exercise. It can be a chair. By using the ball as an office chair, you can alleviate a lot of pressure from your spine, helping you maintain good posture. This also promotes stronger core muscles. Moms find the ball to be an excellent tool while in labor. In fact, some moms choose to give birth while sitting on the ball. After the baby is born, the ball is a great way to bounce a fussy baby to sleep.

4. Strong to the Core
The exercise ball is good for working the abdominal muscles. You can try a half-crunch, where you sit on the ball with your arms crossing your chest and lean half-way back, using your abs to bring yourself back up. To work your obliques, sit on the ball and raise your arms over your head. Leaning back, lower your arms one at a time toward its opposing knee. Then there's the full crunch. Sit on the ball and put your arms at your side. Sit a little forward on the ball and lean all the way back. Use the abs to lift yourself back up to sitting while keeping your feet flat. Some other good exercises to work your core muscles on the exercise ball are front walk-out, back walk-out, reverse crunch, reverse extension and a combination of the crunch and extension.

5. Is a Ball By Any Other Name as Bouncy?
This inflatable exercise ball is a ball with many names. The "Swiss ball" was popular in Switzerland in the mid-sixties by helping children with cerebral palsy exercise. Other names for the ball are gym ball, stability ball, therapy ball, bymnic ball, physio ball or Pilates ball. These balls come in various sizes, depending on your needs.